Centre to Pune admin: Increase swine flu screening centres

As Pune grapples with swine flu, the Centre has asked the local administration to increase the number of screening units and try to do away with compulsory testing before starting treatment on suspected patients.

Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Vineet Chawdhry who is heading a central team to the city, told reporters, "the number of screening centres need to be increased and they will be set up by the Pune administration".

Anybody who feels they have symptoms can just go to the nearest screening centre and see a doctor.

Chawdhry said after a review meeting with the Pune administration it was also decided to do away with compulsory testing in each and every suspected case.

"Since there are a large number of people, they need to get treated," he said.

Assuring that there was no shortage of Tamiflu, the senior official said, the Centre has on Thursday sent two lakh Tamilflu tablets to Pune.

He also said that there was no need for the general pubic to wear N-95 masks. The pandemic has so far claimed 24 lives across the country with 15 deaths from Pune itself.